Buckle



Malfch 4 1958 A. G. NELSON 2,825,109

BUCKLE Filed Oct. 9, 1956 I INVENTOR.

AVERD G- NELSQN BUCKLE Averd G. Nelson, Wisconsin Rapids, Wis.

Application October 9, 1956, Serial No. 614,904

2 Claims. (Cl. 24-68) This invention relates to a buckle and particularly has reference to a buckle for tightening a strap which may be employed for general use.

The buckle to which the invention is directed in general is comprised of two parts. One part constituting a frame is provided with several cross bars permitting the frame to be secured to the end of a strap. The other part constituting a tongue member is pivoted to the frame member and also carries several cross bars to receive the opposite end of the strap. The pivoting of the tongue within the frame to place the tongue in substantially the same plane as the frame tightens the strap into place and the frame and tongue are then locked together with the cross members on the tongue operating to pull the strap taut and more tightly into place over the initial tightness of the strap upon threading into the tongue.

The invention provides a simply constructed buckle which effectively tightens and holds a strap taut when the buckle is locked.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the accompanying drawing which illustrates the best mode presently contemplated by the inventor for carrying out the invention.

In the drawing:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the buckle of the invention before application to a strap;

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view showing the buckle applied to a strap with parts in elevation; and

Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 2 with the strap locked within a buckle.

Referring to the drawing, there is shown a buckle comprising in general a frame 1 with a tongue 2 pivoted within frame 1 and with both of these members adapted for application to a strap '3.

Frame 1 is of generally rectangular shape and is formed of two transversely spaced side members 4 which taper in width to place the narrowest portion of the side members at the outer end adjacent the end of strap 3 to which the frame 1 is secured, while the inner end of the sidev members taper downwardly from a section of greatest width on the side members as shown at 5.

The outer end of frame 1 is closed by transverse bar 6, and bar 7 and bar 8 are provided intermediate the ends of frame 1 to dispose the inner portion of frame 1 free of cross bars.

In order to assemble the end of strap 3 in frame 1, as shown in Figs. 2 and 3, the strap passes over bar 6 and then beneath bar 7 and bar 8. The strap 3 is then reversed back on itself to pass over bar 8 and beneath bar 7. When thus assembled, the strap will not slip from frame 1. Other means of securing the strap to frame 1 may be employed.

' United States Patent l 'atented Mar. 4, 1958 cross bar 12 at the inner end of tongue 2 complete the general construction of tongue 2. 7

As is the case with frame 1, the side members 9 of tongue 2 taper in width in their extent to provide a greater width in the tongue at the area where the tongue is pivoted to frame 1.

The pivoting of the tongue is accomplished by separate pins 13 which respectively extend through side members 4 of frame 1 at area 5 and the side members 9 of tongue 2 at the position on tongue 2 of the greatest width of side members 9. Pins 13 are riveted into place and a rubber bushing 14 may be provided between the head of each pin 13 and the side members 4 of frame 1 to prevent metal to metal contact. A bearing 15 is provided "ice between tongue 2 and frame 1 so that the tongue will b readily pivoted on pins 13. p

When tongue 2 is pivoted on pins 13 within frame 1, a portion of tongue 2 projects within frame 1 when the frame and tongue are in flat position or substantially the same plane. In this position cross bar 12 of tongue 2 is spaced from bar 8 of frame 1.

In assembling the buckle with the end of the strap which is to be held by tongue 2, the tongue is folded back over frame 1 as shown in Fig. 2. The end of strap 3 is then threaded through tongue 2 so that the strap passes under intermediate cross bar 11 and then back over bar 11 and beneath end bar 12. This may be seen in Fig. 2.

The buckle is then locked to the strap by pivoting the tongue 2 on pins 13 to dispose the tongue into substantially the same plane as frame 1 as can be seen in Fig. 3. When tongue 2 is pivoted the end bar 12 engages the double thickness of thestrap and acts as a lever to draw the strap toward the end of the strap held by frame 1. In the pivoting of tongue 2, a portion of the tongue passes through the open end of frame 1. The lever bar 12 finally comes to rest at a positioning slightly above frame 1. i

In order to lock the buckle parts after the strap is assembled in place and the buckle is pivoted to locked position as described, a, detent arrangement is provided. This comprises an inner projection16 on each of the side members 4 of frame 1 at the forward end of each member 4 and outer projections 17 on the outside of the side members 9 of tongue 2. Projections 17 ride over projections 16 to lock the buckle and strap together. The strap is readily released by lifting tongue 2 by means of plate 10 to pivot tongue 2 to the position illustrated in Fig. 2. When tongue 2 is lifted projections 17 ride over projections 16 to unlatch tongue 2 from frame 1.

To insure that strap 3 will not be cut when tightened, rounded and enlarged surfaces 18 are provided on the sides of cross bars 11 and 12 where the strap will be engaged most strongly by these bars when tongue 2 is pivoted to the latched position. Injury to the strap is additionally prevented as respects lever bar 12 due to the double thickness of strap 3 at bar 12.

The invention provides a relatively simple buckle of two parts which will draw a strap tight and hold it there without slippage or injury to the strap by the buckle parts. A strap is easily secured in the buckle and removed therefrom.

Various modes of carrying out the invention are contemplated as being within the scope of the following claims particularly pointing out and distinctly claiming the subject matter which is regarded as the invention.

I claim:

1. A buckle for securing the ends of a strap together, which comprises a frame of generally rectangular shape with the inner end of the frame having a substantially U-shaped opening, retaining means at the end of the frame opposite the opening to secure one end of the strap to said frame, a tongue of generally-rectangularshape and of a width slightly less than the width of said frame adapted to be pivotally mounted on the inner end of the frame within said substantially U-shaped opening, and a cross bar provided at the inner end of the tongue member and a second cross bar provided intermediate the ends of the tongue member, the pivot between the tongue and frame being at a point between the two cross bars of said tongue, and the end port-ion of the strap opposite the end secured to the frame being adapted when the tongue is in a folded position over the frame to be passed below the cross bars ofthe tongue thence over the intermediate cross bar and back through the opening between the two cross bars and then below the end cross bar in contact with the bodyportion of the strap to form a loop so that whenthe strap is drawn taut as the tongue is pivoted through the frame and into substantially the same plane as said frame a double width of the strap is presented over the end cross bar to provide substantial frictional resistance to relative movement of the strap loop after the strap is tightened by pivoting of the tongue within said frame.

2. The structure of claim 1 wherein the pivot between the tongue and frame is at a point substantially below the plane of the cross bars of the tongue so that when the tongue is pivoted through the frame and into substantially the same plane as said frame a locking grip on the strap is provided, and a generally large plate extending across the outer end of the tongue to open the tongue witl'zn the frame and break the locking grip on the strap.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 6i6,G4-0 Trinder Dec. 13, 1898 l,t)84,057 Avelsgard M Jan. 13, 1914 1,420,588 Tabler June 20, 1922 1,455,545 Monahan May 15, 1923 2,173,889 Troendly Sept. 26, 1939 

